Lemongrass Ginger Tea with Lemon

Enjoy this lemongrass ginger tea when you need a fresh, zesty and aromatic drink that will make you feel good. It has a great soothing effect and also is packed with amazing citrusy flavors. Easy and done within 15 minutes, plus it is caffeine-free and can be enjoyed either warm or iced.

We have been loving this simple tea so much recently. I often enjoy a warm lavender milk tea or a butterfly pea flower latte to wind down at the end of the day, but this fresh and zesty lemongrass ginger tea now has the spotlight and our new go-to feel-good cozy drink.

It is a homemade tea that's made using fresh lemongrass, ginger and lemon. It is amazing enjoyed warm and provides such a great cozy effect during the winter season, on rainy days or whenever you feel under the weather. It makes for the perfect sick day tea to slowly sip on!

It is inspired by the classic lemongrass drink you will find in Asian culture (regularly served in restaurants in many parts of Asia). And because of its naturally calming effect, it is also offered in spas. Here, I made a modified version of the classic lemongrass recipe by also including fresh ginger for a nice peppery heat and some lemon juice for a citrusy brightness. 

The caffeine-free combo of lemongrass + ginger + lemon is so delicious, plus it has an incredible soothing effect that is perfect to include in your self-care routine. 

It actually tastes pretty complex in flavor, even though it can be made super quickly and following only a few straightforward steps. You will only need a small handful of ingredients to make it and you can easily adjust the flavor or personalize it with other spices or steep it in caffeinated teas. 

I also love to make more and then let it cool down in the fridge. I can then sip on a refreshing citrusy iced tea during the week.

Hope you give it a try! ❤️

Why you'll love this recipe

• Ultra simple and quick to make
• Can be enjoyed warm vs iced
• Perfect drink to enjoy during the flu season or for when you have a sore throat
• Great tea to help relax your busy mind
• Packed with citrusy flavor with a subtle spicy kick from the ginger
• Caffeine-free and refined sugar-free
• Perfect way to soothe nausea and help with motion sickness
• Good-for-you and known to provide some health benefits

Health benefits of lemongrass and ginger tea

Lemongrass is a long root in the grass family used frequently in Asian cuisine (especially in Thai recipes). It has a strong and very aromatic flavor combining citrusy aromas and some gingery flavor. The combination of lemongrass with ginger and lemon makes this recipe such an amazing therapeutic cup of tea!

This amazing homemade tea is loaded with good-for-you health benefits:

• Lemongrass tea has lots of health benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties, anti-anxiety and anti-microbial effects, lowering cholesterol effects (especially the essential oil) and more. 
• Ginger has also been used to treat many ailments for centuries, such as nausea, arthritis and to help regulate blood sugar.
• Lemon is naturally rich in vitamin C to help you fight disease and boost your immune system.

Also, sipping on this warm and cozy cup of tea encourages you to sit down, relax, hydrate and take time for yourself.

This tea is naturally free of caffeine, so feel free to enjoy it right before bedtime to help you sleep better!

As a side note, there are potential side effects to consuming too much lemongrass, such as low blood pressure. So, be sure to get informed before enjoying too much lemongrass.

Ingredients you'll need

(See below in the recipe card for the measurements)

• Fresh lemongrass stalks: look in the fresh herb section in your grocery store. It should come in a package of 3-4 stalks or even more (you will need only one), so don't hesitate to make a larger amount of tea and store it in the fridge if you are worried about having the other stalks go to waste.
• Fresh ginger: you will need a fresh ginger root for this recipe. Look in the produce section as well. I highly recommend choosing organic ginger for this recipe.
• Fresh lemon: add more citrusy flavor to the tea. Lime juice would work too or even orange for a sweeter version without having to add extra sugar.
• Sweetener: I used maple syrup, but any other kind of sweetener will work, such as brown sugar or agave syrup. You actually might not even need to sweeten your tea depending on your taste.

How to make lemongrass ginger tea

(See below in the recipe card for the full recipe)

Prepare the lemongrass and ginger

Start by peeling the ginger (I use a small spoon to scrape off the thin skin from the root). Then, roughly slice the root. You will need about 1 inch total of ginger for this recipe, but feel free to use more for an extra kick in ginger-y flavor. 

Also, remove the thicker layer surrounding your lemongrass stalk and discard. 

Then, using something heavy, bruise both the ginger pieces and lemongrass stalks. It is fine if they break a little, keep all the broken pieces to make your tea.

Simmer and strain

In a small pot, add the bruised ginger and lemongrass and pour the cold water over. Cover and bring to a low simmer. Keep simmering for about 10 minutes (or longer for a stronger tea). 

Once done, strain your tea using a fine mesh colander or a French press. 

Adjust flavor and serve

To the strained tea, add the lemon juice and sweetener to taste. Serve the fresh lemongrass tea right away while still warm or let it cool down at room temperature and then chill in the fridge to make iced lemongrass tea.

Helpful tips

• For an extra zesty flavor, then you can also add some lemon peel to the water. Remove the peels before enjoying or storing so the tea does not turn butter.
• This is a super simple tea to prepare, although you will want to make sure it does simmer for the right amount of time. The longer you simmer it, the stronger the flavor will be, but too long also means potentially bitter. 
• Don't skip on bruising the ginger and lemongrass to help extract the aromas and make sure your tea has a nice flavorful punch.

Variations to the recipe

You can personalize this tea recipe in so many ways! Here are a few ideas:

• Add a cinnamon stick to the pot while simmering the tea.
• Add fresh herbs such as basil or mint for a refreshing effect. This would be amazing to make iced tea. In that case, simmer and strain the tea as described and then, add the fresh herbs to the tea while it chills in the fridge.
• To add more powerful healthy benefits to your tea, also include a small piece of turmeric root while simmering.
• For an energizing concoction, steep some caffeinated green tea or black tea leaves in the ginger-lemongrass tea as well. 
• Spicy herbal tea: add a pinch of cayenne pepper to add some heat!
• If you want to have a stronger ginger flavor, then you can also simmer the ginger alone for about 5 minutes, then add the lemongrass and keep simmering until done. 

Storage tips

Once the tea has cooled down, simply keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2-3 days. From there, you can either enjoy leftover tea over ice cubes for a cooling effect or simply warm up on the stove (or even microwave). The leftovers should stay pretty good for a few days.

FAQ's 

Can I use powdered ginger instead of fresh ginger? 

No. For best result, you will need to use the fresh roots. You can peel and slice ginger roots ahead of time and then freeze the pieces in a container to be able to make fresh ginger tea any time (or to use in cooking).

Does lemongrass ginger tea contain caffeine? 

No. It is safe to enjoy just before bedtime and to share with kids too.

Why did my tea turn brown-ish? 

It can have a brown hue, depending on the ginger and lemongrass you use. Also, the more you simmer/steep them, the more brownish/hazy it will turn. It is fine! It just means your tea will have a stronger taste.

Other tea recipes you might like

• Peach oolong iced tea
• Lavender milk tea
• Chia seed tea
• Vanilla matcha latte
• Butterfly pea flower tea
• Matcha chai latte
• Earl Grey milk tea
• Orange peel tea
• Cinnamon milk tea

I hope you like this easy lemongrass ginger tea as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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